Dental treatments put off ‘to save money’

on 8 July 2009

Dental appointments and eye tests are being put off to save money, research suggests.

An online poll revealed 46% ignore cracked teeth and lost fillings and 13% do DIY repairs on their broken glasses to avoid bills.

Just over two-fifths of those surveyed avoid regular dental and eye check-ups to save money and 4% resorted to removing a painful tooth themselves.

Another 3% had worn someone else’s dentures or contact lenses.

Dr Hugh Laing, chief medical officer at Aviva UK Health, said: ‘Avoiding medical treatment is a false economy – not to mention a risky prescription. Regular health checks can help identify issues before they become more serious or costly.’

Insurance company Aviva commissioned market research firm Redshift to carry out the research.